A source close to free agent J.J. Barea tells TNT’s David Aldridge that the 27-year-old is finalizing details on a four-year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, which would further add to that team’s seemingly inexhaustable supply of guards.

Barea, who starred in the postseason last spring during the Dallas Mavericks’ run to the NBA title, took more in Minnesota than in New York, which had been talking about a two-year deal, according to the source. But after using the amnesty provision on Saturday to waive guard Chauncey Billups and dealing forward Ronny Turiaf to Washington as part of the three-team deal that sent Tyson Chandler to New York, the Knicks technically fell under the cap, and thus lost their ability to use the mid-level exception starting at $5 million. They only had the new “room” exception for teams that are below the tax threshold that starts at $2.5 million to offer.

The Timberwolves could be looking for a mentor for their high-profile rookie guard, Ricky Rubio, who finally came over to the NBA after starring in Europe as a teenager. Rubio was taken fifth overall by the Wolves in 2009 but remained in Europe until this summer. The Wolves already have veteran guard Luke Ridnour on the roster as well.

The Mavericks, who are intent on keeping cap flexibility next season, only offered Barea a one-year deal, the source said. That left Barea feeling “betrayed” after he’d become a key contributor for Dallas the past few seasons and a major factor last season off the bench in the playoffs for the Mavericks, averaging 8.9 points and 3.4 assists in 18.6 minutes per game in the postseason. He shot almost 42 percent from behind the three-point line, and his 22-point, 8-assist effort in the clinching game over the Lakers in the second round so frustrated Lakers center Andrew Bynum that Bynum cheap-shotted Barea in the closing minutes of the Mavericks’ Game 4 series-clinching rout, earning an ejection and five-game suspension at the beginning of this season.

Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle started Barea during The Finals against the Heat, and the diminutive guard provided a major spark for Dallas en route to its 4-2 series win over Miami.

After waiving Billups, the Knicks clearly need help at the point. Their current starter is second-year guard Toney Douglas, though first-round pick Iman Shumpert could see some time there as well this season. And Barea would have been an ideal distributor in Mike D’Antoni‘s high-octane offensive attack.

47 Comments

JJ – He’s still just a very small PG and only a bench player. His last season was solid, the playoffs good, and the very last game (6) awesome. So what? 10 mio? It’s ok, I understand, he’s looking for the best deal for himself. And it’s also ok that the Mavs don’t want to offer him more (years and money). He’s just a bench player after all and the Mavs surely expect more form Beaubois this next season and in the future as well as in comparison to JJ. With many guys gone, the only one that really hurts is Chandler. And I wonder what’s happening with Peja and Stephenson? I understand Peja isn’t getting younger but so are (not) the other Mavs. Stephenson I’d like to keep. And then bring in Dalembert or Kaman… and we’re good.

With Barea, Rubio and Ridnour they have two pg´s with fatal flaws. Ridnour is the worst defensive player I have ever seen at that level, and Rubio is the worst shooter I have ever seen at that level. He is a superior ball handler, can go to the hole and finish or dish, sees the court extremely well, and plays much better than average defense, but he can´t shoot a lick. That is why he would have trouble being on the floor the same time as Barea. Barea is too small to defend a 2, Ricky can, he has the size and quickness, great anticipation, but he can´t shoot at all and he was actually a worse shooter these last two years with Barcelona than he had been previously with Joventut.

First of all, why would he need to stay in Dallas after being slapped in the face with a crappy one year contract after the season he had there? Second, why would he need to go to another “contender” team when they are not offering him what his playing to get, MONEY! The money was with the wolves and that’s where he went. How many great players are there that couldn’t get their championship ring? Barea already got it… Now he’s got to focus on the money and his own security, after all this is a BUSINESS!

Ridinour is no big deal. Wes Johnson has proven himself yet. Rubio is wet behind the ears. J.J. Barera was a good player on a very talented and deep Dallas team. He can play 1 or 2. He can just play. Good sign. bye bye Luke

the mavs are my favorites. but, they are really NOT going to win if they give away guys Tyson Chandler, Caron Butler, and now maybe even JJ barea. I just want them to make good decisions , like not trading so many players.

One of the quietist transactions (& I missed it until today) – “During the 2011 NBA Draft, Flynn was traded to the Houston Rockets along with Donatas Motiejunas in exchange for Brad Miller, the number 23 and 38 picks in the draft, and a future first round draft pick.” As a ‘cuse fan, I wish Flynn the best.

Because of JJ Brea the mavericks won the title because , if rick carlise ,have not put barea to starrt the last 3 games the mavs wouldent won the title ! I think that barea has benn better in NY but he decided to go minesota and if is true that he sign with min, minesota has the best gurad in the nba right now ,because for he dallas are the champions

His three pointer killed the lakers, his clutch three over lebron made lebron look like a bad defender, He can score off the bench or be in the starting lineup, His defense against Wade & LeBron was superb, He actually played the PG in the fourth quarter in the finals not Jason Kidd!! He should of been the finals MVP!!

This is a good pick up for T-wolves, if Rubio lives up to expectations then Berea would be the perfect back up, Luke can be used as a valuable trading piece. If Rubio fails then there is still a decent starting pg in Ridnour. As for Flynn, his performance for the last couple season has been so poor I dont kno why ppl would add him to t_wolves list or pgs.

He will be the third point guard on their roster, I don’t understand why this is so hard for people to understand? They drafted a combo-guard, Malcolm Lee, in the second round, but I didn’t expect him to contribute much as a rookie.

God bless you Anthony J. As a Wolves fan I don’t love this deal, because long mid-terms for playoff heroes usually end badly. But this isn’t a positional issue. Rubio is tall, and could play at the same time as either Barrea or Ridnaur at times. And I’m not sure we should expect Ricky to play Chris Paul minutes this year. He will be learning the game and getting up to speed. Stop worshiping Bill Simmons (who guaranteed all of us that Rubio would never play for the Wolves) and analyze a Kahn move with something other than snark and cliches. The worst part of this deal is the four years, but JJ is only 27, has rarely been hurt, and seems unlikely to be the type of player to take the money and stop working hard.

Second this. Minnesota actually is top-heavy with bigs and very thin at guard, especially after Martell Webster’s back surgery. It’s laughable how lazy and prone to spouting the same old tired stereotypes so many reporters are.

why dont you do ur history and see how many guards the timberwolves have drafted in the 1st round since 08-09..
thats why everybody disagrees… in my personal opinion johnny flynn is better that barrea and rubio, and the wolves will hang around the bottom of the western conference.

Johnny Flynn has no ability to run a team. If you look at his +/- rate, you will see Flynn probably has the worst the last couple years. I think Johnny has potential, but anyone who has watched JJ and Johnny for an extended time knows that JJ is way better and has a ring to prove it. JJ may be the best guard the Wolves have right now. .

Big loss for Dallas if he does sign elsewhere. Shame they didn’t offer him better, he’s a solid pro. Beaubois has to step up! Otherwise Terry and Jones will be running point when Kidd comes to the bench.

It would be awesome if the Mavericks could make up a package of maybe Odom, Haywood and (if the rumors are true) Vince Carter for someone like Dwight Howard. Otherwise a great acquisition for the Mavericks would be Samuel Dalembert, someone defensive savvy and a decent rebounder!

The only point guards the Wolves have are Rubio and Ridnour and Rubio has never played a game. The Wolves also have no legit 2 guard who can handle the ball. It’s a good signing and Ridnour can easily be traded. The Mavs won the title last year with Barea, Jet Terry, Jason Kidd and Stevenson. Nobody said they had too many guards.